Chrysanthemum plant named `Dark Red Reagan`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Red Reagan, bearing medium sized red blooms with a yellow-green center and performance of 24-28 days.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant which is a natural occurring sport of a parent chrysanthemum named Reagan. Parent chrysanthemum Reagan is described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,642. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in 1992 in a greenhouse in Holland. Other naturally occurring mutations of `Reagan` for which U.S. plant patent protection is being sought include the cultivar `Dark Splendid Reagan` (copending plant patent application Ser. No. 08/642,224) and `Sunny Reagan` (copending plant patent application Ser. No. 08/642,904).

The invention has been asexually reproduced by cuttings at the same location. The new cultivar has been found to retain all of its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum of a medium sized bloom and Red color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows the full bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows foliage and petiole of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of Chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. When grown in the vicinity of Ter Aar, Holland, it has a response time of approximately 71/2 weeks. This new variety produces medium sized Red blooms with a yellow-green center having a 4 week performance (i.e., vase life of 24-28 days). This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations and may be planted under greenhouse conditions in Holland between weeks 50 and 35. The following is a description of the plant and characteristics (color designations are from R.H.S. Color Chart) that distinguish it from related known varieties and its antecedents: The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances.

    ______________________________________                                         Detailed Botanical Description and Comparative Data                                                       Parent Cultivar                                     CULTIVAR     Dark Red Reagan                                                                              Reagan                                              ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size         Medium cross  Medium cross                                                     section ±1.0 cm                                                                           section ±1.0 cm                                               height ±0.7 cm                                                                            height ±0.7 cm                                   Form         Round and flat                                                                               Round and flat                                      Outside Color                                                                               Near Greyed   Greyed Purple                                                    Purple 186A   186D but paler                                      Bloom                                                                          Size         Medium        Medium                                              Fully Expanded                                                                              61/2-7 cm     61/2-7 cm                                           Borne        Upper portion,                                                                               Upper portion,                                                   single flower per                                                                            single flower per                                                peduncle, lower                                                                              peduncle, lower                                                  portion plural                                                                               portion plural                                                   flowers per   flowers per                                                      peduncle      peduncle                                            Peduncle Lengths                                                                            Near the top ±14                                                                          Near the top ±14                                              cm, near the middle                                                                          cm, near the middle                                              ±24 cm, near the                                                                          ±24 cm, near the                                              bottom ±28 cm                                                                             bottom ±28 cm                                    Peduncle Lateral                                                                            Weak to medium                                                                               medium                                              Shoot, Attachment                                                              Peduncle Lateral                                                                            small         medium                                              Shoot, Angle                                                                   Form         Single (Daisy)                                                                               Single (Daisy)                                      Performance  Very good 24-28                                                                              Very good 24-28                                                  days (18-20° C.)                                                                      days (18-20° C.)                             Color                                                                          Center of Flower                                                                            Immature: Yellow-                                                                            Immature: Yellow-                                                Green 144A    Green 151C                                                       Mature: Yellow-                                                                              Mature: Yellow-                                                  Green 154A    Green 154A                                          Base of Petals                                                                              Unevenly colored;                                                                            Purple 75B                                                       near Greyed-Red                                                                182A lightly                                                                   streaked with                                                                  Greyed-Orange                                                                  167B                                                              Outer Petals Unevenly colored;                                                                            Purple 75B                                                       near Greyed-Red                                                                182A lightly                                                                   streaked with                                                                  Greyed-Orange                                                                  167B                                                              Inside of Petals                                                                            Unevenly colored;                                                                            Purple 75B                                                       near Greyed-Red                                                                182A lightly                                                                   streaked with                                                                  Greyed-Orange                                                                  167B                                                              Reverse of Petals                                                                           Yellow-White 158A                                                                            Red-Purple                                                       tinged with   69D but paler                                                    Greyed-Purple                                                                  186D between the                                                               ribs and towards                                                               the margin                                                        Tonality from                                                                               A red daisy with a                                                                           A pale pink daisy                                   Distance     fresh looking center                                                                         with a fresh looking                                             having a little                                                                              center having a                                                  or no pollen  little or no pollen                                 Discoloration                                                                               Some to Greyed-                                                                              Some to Red-                                                     Red 181C      Purple 69D                                          Pollen       Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                            Yellow-Orange 14A                                   Petals                                                                         Texture      Upperside smooth,                                                                            Upperside smooth,                                                underside smooth                                                                             underside smooth                                    Number       24-30 (two rows)                                                                             24-30 (two rows)                                    Cross-section                                                                               convex, two keels                                                                            flat, two keels                                     Arrangement  Imbricated    Imbricated                                          Persistance  Good. Petals keep                                                                            Good. Petals keep                                                straight or reflex                                                                           straight or reflex                                               somewhat at the                                                                              somewhat at the                                                  edge at the   edge at the                                                      end of blooming.                                                                             end of blooming.                                    Fragrance    Typical       Typical                                                          Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum                                       Disc Diameter                                                                               Medium to large                                                                              Medium (1.5 cm)                                                  (1.5-2.0 cm)                                                      Reproductive Organs                                                            Stamen       Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                                                          Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                              in length     in length                                           Pollen       Appears at late                                                                              Appears at late                                                  stage of blooming                                                                            stage of blooming                                   Styles       Green, thick  Green, thick                                        Style Length ±5 mm      ±5 mm                                            Stigmas      Yellow        Yellow                                              Stigma Width ±1 mm      ±1 mm                                            Ovaries      Enclosed in calyx                                                                            Enclosed in calyx                                   Plant                                                                          Form         Spray mum meant                                                                              Spray mum meant                                                  for erect culture.                                                                           for erect culture.                                               Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.                                         Growth       Medium        Strong                                              Height       100-125 cm    100-125 cm                                          Stem Color   Yellow-Green 144A                                                                            Yellow-Green 144A                                   Stem Strength                                                                               Strong        Medium                                              Stem Brittleness                                                                            Absent        Present                                             Stem Anthocyanin                                                                            Present, at the base                                                                         Absent                                              Coloration   and along the ribs                                                Internodes   3 cm          3 cm                                                Flowering Response                                                                          71/2 weeks    71/2 weeks                                          Foliage                                                                        Color        Upperside Green                                                                              Upperside Green                                                  137A.         137A.                                                            Underside Green                                                                              Underside Green                                                  137C.         137C.                                               Size         Length ±11 cm.                                                                            Length ±12 cm.                                                Width ±9 cm.                                                                              Width ±9 cm.                                     Quantity     22-28         22-28                                               Shape        Lobed, see    Lobed, see                                                       photograph    photograph                                          Texture      Upperside rough,                                                                             Upperside rough,                                                 underside smooth,                                                                            underside smooth,                                                slightly hirsute                                                                             slightly hirsute                                    Ribs and Veins                                                                              Ribs well     Ribs well                                                        developed.    developed.                                                       Veins not so  Veins not so                                                     developed.    developed.                                          Edge         Crenated      Crenated                                            Shape of Base of                                                                            Round         Round                                               Sinus Between                                                                  Lateral Lobes                                                                  Margin of Sinus                                                                             Converging    Converging                                          Between Lateral                                                                Lobes                                                                          Shape of Base                                                                               Cordate       Rounded                                             Apex         Mucronate     Cupsodate                                           Response time                                                                  Difference in days of                                                                       +11/2         0                                                   average response                                                               Response to ALAR                                                               Dose utilized to                                                                            300           300                                                 obtain plant height of                                                         about 90 cm (g/100 l                                                           H.sub.2 O)                                                                     Year of Discovery                                                                           1992          1986                                                ______________________________________                                                      Dark Splendid                                                     CULTIVAR     Reagan        Sunny Reagan                                        ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size         Medium cross  Medium cross                                                     section ±1.0 cm                                                                           section ±1.0 cm                                               height ±0.7 cm                                                                            height ±0.7 cm                                   Form         Round and flat                                                                               Round and flat                                      Outside Color                                                                               Near Red-     Between Yellow                                                   Purple 70A    7A/Yellow 9A                                        Bloom        Medium        Medium                                              Fully Expanded                                                                              61/2-7 cm     61/2-7 cm                                           Borne        Upper portion,                                                                               Upper portion,                                                   single flower per                                                                            flower per                                                       peduncle, lower                                                                              peduncle, lower                                                  portion plural                                                                               portion plural                                                   flowers per   flowers per                                                      peduncle      peduncle                                            Peduncle Lengths                                                                            Near the top ±14                                                                          Near the top ±14                                              cm, near the  cm, near the                                                     middle ±24, cm,                                                                           middle ±24 cm,                                                near the bottom                                                                              near the bottom                                                  ±28 cm     ±28 cm                                           Peduncle Lateral                                                                            medium        medium                                              Shoot, Attachment                                                              Peduncle Lateral                                                                            small         medium                                              Shoot, Angle                                                                   Form         Single (Daisy)                                                                               Single (Daisy)                                      Performance  Very good 24-28                                                                              Very good 24-28                                                  days (18-20° C.)                                                                      (18-20° C.)                                  Color                                                                                       Immature: Yellow-                                                                            Immature: Yellow-                                                Green 144A    Green 144A                                                       Mature: Yellow-                                                                              Mature: Yellow-                                                  Green 154A    Green 154A                                          Base of Petals                                                                              Near Red-Purple                                                                              Yellow 5A deep-                                                  71C but very  ening slightly to                                                slightly more blue                                                                           Yellow 6A in the                                                               basal half                                          Outer Petals Near Red-Purple                                                                              Yellow 5A deep-                                                  71C but very  ening slightly to                                                slightly more blue                                                                           Yellow 6A in the                                                               basal half                                          Inside of Petals                                                                            Near Red-Purple                                                                              Yellow 5A deep-                                                  71C but very  ening slightly to                                                slightly more blue                                                                           Yellow 6A in                                                                   the basal half                                      Reverse of Petals                                                                           Nearest Purple-                                                                              Yellow 6A                                                        Violet 80D but                                                                 more grey and                                                                  with a slightly                                                                deeper tonation                                                   Tonality from                                                                               A purple daisy with                                                                          A yellow daisy with                                 Distance     a fresh looking                                                                              a fresh looking                                                  center having a                                                                              center having a                                                  little or no  little or no                                                     pollen        pollen                                              Discoloration                                                                               Some to Red-  Some to Yellow 5B                                                Purple 72C                                                        Pollen       Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                            Yellow-Orange 14A                                   Petals                                                                         Texture      Upperside smooth,                                                                            Upperside smooth,                                                underside smooth                                                                             underside smooth                                    Number       24-30 (two rows)                                                                             24-30 (two rows)                                    Cross-section                                                                               convex, no keels                                                                             convex, two keels                                   Arrangement  Imbricated    Imbricated                                          Persistence  Good. Petals keep                                                                            Good. Petals keep                                                straight or   straight or                                                      reflex somewhat at                                                                           reflex somewhat at                                               the edge at the                                                                              the edge at the                                                  end of blooming.                                                                             the end of blooming.                                Fragrance    Typical       Typical                                                          Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum                                       Disc Diameter                                                                               Medium to large                                                                              Medium to large                                                  (1.5-2.0 cm)  (1.5-2.0 cm)                                        Reproductive Organs                                                            Stamen       Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                                                          Yellow, thick, 3 mm                                              in length     in length                                           Pollen       Appears at late                                                                              Appears at late                                                  stage of blooming                                                                            stage of blooming                                   Styles       Green, thick  Green, thick                                        Style Length ±5 mm      ±5 mm                                            Stigmas      Yellow        Yellow                                              Stigma Width ±1 mm      ±1 mm                                            Ovaries      Enclosed in calyx                                                                            Enclosed in calyx                                   Plant                                                                          Form         Spray mum meant                                                                              Spray mum meant                                                  for erect culture.                                                                           for erect culture.                                               Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.                                         Growth       Medium        Strong                                              Height       100-125 cm    100-125 cm                                          Stem Color   Yellow-Green 144A                                                                            Yellow-Green 144A                                   Stem Strength                                                                               Strong        Strong                                              Stem Brittleness                                                                            Absent        Absent                                              Stem Anthocyanin                                                                            Present, at the base                                                                         Present, mainly at                                  Coloration   and along the ribs                                                                           the base                                            Internodes   3 cm          3 cm                                                Flowering Response                                                                          71/2 weeks    71/2 weeks                                          Foliage                                                                        Color        Upperside Green.                                                                             Upperside Green                                                  137A.         137A.                                                            Underside Green                                                                              Underside Green                                                  137C.         137C.                                               Size         Length ±11 cm.                                                                            Length ±12 cm.                                                Width ±9 cm.                                                   Width ±9 cm.                                                                Quantity     22-28         22-28                                               Shape        Lobed, see    Lobes, see                                                       photograph    photograph                                          Texture      Upperside rough,                                                                             Upperside rough,                                                 underside smooth,                                                                            underside smooth,                                                slightly hirsute.                                                                            slightly hirsute.                                   Ribs and Veins                                                                              Ribs well     Ribs well                                                        developed.    developed.                                                       Veins not so  Veins not so                                                     developed.    developed.                                          Edge         Crenated      Crenated                                            Shape of Base of                                                                            Round         Round                                               Sinus Between                                                                  Lateral Lobes                                                                  Margin of Sinus                                                                             Converging    Converging                                          Between Lateral                                                                Lobes                                                                          Shape of Base                                                                               Cordate       Truncate                                            Apex         Mucronate     Mucronate                                           Response time                                                                  Difference in days of                                                                       +1            +11/2                                               average response                                                               Response to ALAR                                                               Dose utilized to                                                                            300           450                                                 obtain plant height of                                                         about 90 cm (g/100 l                                                           H.sub.2 O)                                                                     Year of Discovery                                                                           1991          1991                                                ______________________________________                                          PG,4 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 